DEVELOPING INTERCULTURAL COMPETENCE IN ENGLISH LANGUAGE CLASSES THROUGH MUSIC
Keywords:
intercultural competence, cultural awareness, authentic cultural texts, sociocultural learning, music in English language education, learner engagementAbstract
The increasing intensity of cross-cultural interaction in contemporary society has fundamentally reshaped the objectives of English language education. Beyond formal language proficiency, learners are now expected to demonstrate the ability to interpret meaning, negotiate values, and respond appropriately within culturally diverse communicative situations. This article explores the integration of music into English language teaching as a pedagogically grounded approach to fostering intercultural competence. Music is examined as a culturally saturated form of expression that conveys social experience, historical memory, and emotional meaning. Drawing on sociocultural perspectives and intercultural language learning principles, the article argues that music-based pedagogy promotes cultural awareness, empathy, and reflective engagement while simultaneously supporting linguistic development. The discussion emphasizes that systematic engagement with musical texts enables learners to move beyond surface-level cultural information toward deeper interpretative understanding and ethically informed communication.
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